Hand fire-extinguishing apparatus.



No. 858,188. PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907. .A. G. LAURENT. HAND FIREEXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1906.

jun/671507" A/ x-zndre Lauren -t Atav-way UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed September 1 N0. 335.718.

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, ALEXANDRE G. LAU- RENT, a subject of Russia,residing at St. Petersburg, Russia, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Hand Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus, of whichthe followingis a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a hand fire extinguishingapparatus of the kind in which two or more hquids, arranged separatelyin a common container, are caused to mingle in the case of fire so thatthey generate gases (carbonic acid) which expel the liquids in apowerful jet.

In the appliances of this kind hitherto employed, when the appliance wasutilized, the two or more liquids have been completely mixed one withthe other, so that the pressure within the container became relativelyhigh and it was consequently necessary to make the container strong.Further it was also impossible to stop the jet before the apparatuswasemptied, even when its use became no longer necessary, so that theappliance had to be recharged after use on every occasion before it waspossible to use it again.

The defects are obviated by means of the present invention, owin to thefact that it sprays foam instead of liquid. The weight of this foambeing from 8 to 10 times lighter than water, a jet of foam from 6 to 8meters high can be roduced with a pressure of but one atmosp ere, andthe container may therefore be formed from ordinary tin or galvanizediron by soldering. In addition to this, the mixture of the two or moreliquids forming the foam takes place in such a manner that only thequantities required for the formation of a certain quantity of foam aremixed together, and further mixing takes place gradually as this foam issprayed out.

As a result of this, the operation of the appliance may be caused tocease at any moment, and it may be re-started at any time as long as theapparatus contains any of the liquids. The formation of the foam isproduced by adding to one of the liquids (or to both of them) anyappropriate viscous foam-forming substance. There are many suchsubstances, but the most advantageous is extract of li uorice root(succus Ziguiritae).

arious forms of the invention are illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a vertical section through a fire extinguisherembodying the invention. Fi so 2 and 3 are respectively a vertical and aorizontal section of a modified form of the-apparatus, and Figs. 4 and 5are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section of a furthermodification of the apparatus.

The fire extinguisher (Fig. 1) consists of a cylindrical reservoir 1) inwhich another reservoir a of acid-proof material is placed, its upperart being inclosed by a conical partition 0 so dered to the wall of thereservoir 6. Between the upper edge of the partition and the mouth ofthe container at there exists a relatively narrow o ening which opensinto an upper mixing chamber d in which the two liquids are graduallymixed together and there produce the foam. The mixing chamber disprovided with a sprayin nozzle e and is closed above by a mechanica lyfixed plug h. Any ordinary plug may however be employed for thispurpose, as the pressure existing inside the apparatus is notsuificiently strong to force the plug out. The apparatus is providedwith handles 9.

The container 12 may be charged with a soda solution and the container awith a dilute acid, the quantity of acid em loyed and the quantity oflye contained in t e vessel b (bicarbonate of sodium for example)corresponding one with the other. The viscous, foamroducing substanceis' added to one of these iquids, and may consist for example of extractof liquorice root which is added in a quantity from .05 to. 5% of theweight of the li uids contained in the two vessels a and b.

fthe a paratus is to be em loyed for extin guishing urning liquids, sucas petroleum,

oil, naphtha,benzin or the like, a-thin readily-flowing foam containing0.05% of extract of liquorice root is necessary, while for extinguishingburning wood and other horizontal and vertical services, it is necessaryto employ a denser foam, for which up to 5% of extract of liquorice rootmust be added to the liquids in the vessels.

When 1t is desired to use the apparatus, it is inverted or tilted, sothat a portion of the liquid in the vessels a and b flows into themixing'chamber d. When the two li uids mix, a foam is formed, owing tothe li eration of carbonic acid and the presence of the foam-producingsubstance, the volume of this foam exceeding that of the li uid manytimes, say from 8 to 10 times. e formation of the foam in the mixingchamber (2 produces the following results owing to the IIO increase ofvolume and the increase of pressure thereby obtained; in the firstplace, the

openings of the vessels a and b, so that the liquids can no longer leavethem, and in the third place, owing to this internal pressure, the foamis ejected in the form of a jet out of the openedlateral nozzle e. Assoon, however, as a portion of the foam has been ejected thro h theaperture 6, the internal pressure in t e chamber d diminishes, theequilibrium between the vessels a, b and d is disturbed so that theliquids in the vessels a and b can again partially leave the vessels,and a fresh formation of foam takes place, and so on in succession. Inthis manner the two li uids are radually and intermittently poure out oft e vessel-s a and b, and the foam thereby formed is ejected through thenozzles. If the vessel is again placed upright upon its bottom, so thatthe orifices of the two vessels 0, and b are directed upward, theformation of foam ceases, as the two liquids are no longer able tomingle. If, how ever, the apparatus is again inverted or tilted, itbegins to work as vigorously as before, and this action continues aslong as any liquid remains in the two vessels. The pressure in thechamber cZ does not exceed one atmosphere when the dlscharge orifice isopen. When the discharge orifice is closed or accidentally stopped, thepressure is not higher than two atmospheres; as above stated theapparatus therefore presents no danger of explosion even if made bysoldering ordinary tin or galvanized iron.

The modified form of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 differsfrom that described above, in that the formation of the foam is notproduced by completely. inverting the apparatus, but merely by incliningit as far as the horizontal position.

In the form represented in Figs. 4 and 5 the vessel 1) is divided intotwo compartments by means of a vertical partition Z; one of thesecompartments serving for the reception of the vessel a containing theacid, while the other is charged with a soda solution.

It will of course be understood that the apparatus'may be modified inmany other ways without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1.. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containingseparated gasproducing fire-extinguishing substances and afoam-producing substance which causes the substances to produce agas-filled foam simultaneously with the evolution of gases.

2. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containingseparated gasproducing fire-extinguishing substances and afoam-producing substance and having-a mixing chamber in which thesubstances, when mingled, produce a gas-filled foam simultaneously' withthe evolution of gases.

3. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containingseparated gasproducing fire-extinguishing substances and afoam-producing substance mixed with one of said fire-extinguishingsubstances to cause a gas-filled foam to be produced simultaneously withthe evolution of gases.

4. A. fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containingseparated gasproducing fire-extinguishing substances and afoam-producing substance mixed with said fire-extinguishing substancesto .cause a gasfilled foam to be produced simultaneously with theevolution of gases.

5. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle having anozzle and a mixing chamber, and containing separated gas-producingfire-extinguishing substances and a foam-producing substance mixed withone of the fire-extinguishing substances to cause a gas-filled foam tobe produced simultaneously with the evolution of gases.

6. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containingseparated gasproducing fire-extinguishing substances and an extract oflicorice root (succus Ziquiritae) which is mixed with one of saidsubstances to produce a gas-filled foam simultaneously with theevolution of gases.

7. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containing amixing chamber with a nozzle and compartments having narrow dischargeopenings into the mixing chamber and holding gas-producingfire-extinguishing substances and a foamproducing substance causing thesubstances to produce a gas-filled foam simultaneously with theevolution of gases.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

. ALEXANDRE G. LAURENT.

Witnesses:

J. LODUNES, RUDOLPH LITTUHEN.

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